How to boil eggs

How to boil eggs – Bring water to a boil first, add eggs, start the timer. 6 minutes for runny yolks, 8 minutes for soft boiled (my go-to!), 10 minutes for hard boiled. Peel under water to make life easier.

After cramming directions for how to boil eggs in the notes of more recipes than I can count, I figured it was high time to share a proper recipe. So here is how I boil eggs!

How to boil eggs

This method will produce consistent results to the level of doneness you desire no matter what pot you use and how weak or strong your stove is.

1. Boil water first.

2. Gently lower in fridge-cold eggs.

3. Lower the heat slightly – so the eggs don’t crack due to being bashed around but water is still at a gentle boil.

4. Start the timer – 6 minutes for runny yolks, 8 minutes for soft boiled, 10 minutes for classic hard boiled, 15 minutes for unpleasant rubbery whites and powdery dry yolks.

5. Transfer into a large bowl or sink of cold water.

6. Peel under water starting from the base (it’s easier).

And that’s all you need to know. But if you’re wondering about the why, read on!

My egg boiling rules & the why

1. Boil water before adding eggs – Your water boils faster than mine, because you have a better pot and stronger stove. So if we both start with eggs in cold water then bring it to a boil, our egg cook times will be different.

   Plus, at what point really do you consider the water to be boiling so at what point do you start the timer? And who wants to stand over a pot, waiting for that exact moment it comes to a boil so you can start the timer? Remove that variable! Always start your eggs in boiling water.

2. Lower heat slightly once eggs are added – So the eggs aren’t bashed around so they crack. But keep the water at a gentle boil / rapid simmer else you will lose heat. Goal: maximum water bubbling without eggs cracking.

3. Fridge-cold eggs – Insurance policy for creamy / runny yolks, eggs are consistently easier to peel, pls there’s a consistent baseline for everyone boiling eggs. 8 minutes for a room temperature egg = hard boiled, fridge cold egg = soft boiled!

4. Egg size – The egg cook times provided above are for “large eggs” which are sold in cartons labelled as such. “Large eggs” are ~50 – 55g / 2 oz each, a size prescribed by industry regulations. For other egg sizes:

   – Extra-large eggs (60g/2.2 oz): add 30 seconds
   – Jumbo eggs (65g /2.5 oz): add an extra 1 minute
   – Emu eggs: separate recipe coming one day….. (maybe!😂)

5. Don’t crowd the pan – Small saucepan and too many eggs = not enough heat in the water per egg = slower cook time.

6. Saucepan size – A 18 cm / 7″ saucepan is suitable for 6 eggs, a 16cm / 6″ pan for 4 eggs.

7. Save ice for cocktails – Ice is precious around these parts. There’s no need to waste them on your morning eggs! A bowl of cold tap water is enough to stop the cooking process.

8. Peel from the base – It’s easier. Try it.

9. Peel under water – Also easier. Try it!

What type of boiled eggs I use for what

1. Dippy eggs for soldiers (3 minutes) – Made for dipping in toast sticks (pictured above), these cannot be peeled as only the outer rim of the whites are set. The yolks are runny as is the inner layer of egg whites, so you can mix it up and dip the bread sticks in.

2. Runny yolks (6 minutes) – I don’t use these very often because they are a bit of a pain to peel because the egg whites are just barely set so they are rather delicate! Usually if I’m after a runny yolk I’ll do poached eggs (such as for Eggs Benedict) or fried eggs sunny-side up (for burgers). Just easier to handle and cook, I find.

   What I use them for – Caesar salad and on toast with avocado in some form (smashed/smeared, guacamole or avocado sauce).

3. Soft boiled eggs ⭐️ (8 minutes) – My favourite and default boiled egg because it is at its best! Cooked so the yolk is just set which means it is at its optimal creaminess. But the yolk is cooked enough so it doesn’t run when you cut it.

   What I use them for – salads (Nicoise, chicken pasta salad, Gado Gado), studded throughout fish pie and for my favourite egg sandwiches.

4. Hard boiled eggs (10 minutes) – The other alternative level of doneness for the above listed salads. I prefer soft boiled rather than hard boiled simply because the yolks are creamier and the whites are softer.

5. Overcooked eggs (12 minutes+) – Powdery yolks and rubbery whites are not to my taste, but do your eggs as you wish! I just hope nobody is aiming for the dreaded grey ring around the yolk. That’s as overcooked as you can get!

Egg cracking problems?

To prevent eggs cracking:

1. Lower the eggs in gently using a slotted spoon or similar – don’t drop them in from a height!

2. Reduce the heat slightly as soon as the eggs are added so the water isn’t bubbling so furiously that the eggs are thrown around so violently that they crack.

The other thing that can cause egg cracking is thin shells. The thickness of shells varies which can come down to the chicken breed and the quality of the chickens – and therefore the eggs. Do you use free range eggs?

Crater eggs

As for the burning question about why some eggs peel neatly and others end up cratered like the moon? Ahh, so much information out there! The only thing I know for sure is that older eggs peel more neatly than fresh eggs. This is simply because the membrane of freshly laid eggs is adhered more firmly to the shell so it’s harder to peel off. The older the egg, the more that membrane degrades = easier to peel.

I find eggs purchased from the store that I’ve had for a week+ in the fridge almost always peel neatly.

And onwards!

And that, my friends, is all the pertinent information I have to impart on the matter of boiling eggs. Go forth and enjoy your new egg boiling life, with guaranteed perfectly boiled eggs every single time!

And for egg boiling experts – share your tips. I love learning new things! – Nagi x

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Watch how to make it

Life of Dozer

Size context: large eggs and jumbo paws.